Understanding catchment areas
How catchment areas and oversubscription criteria work, why they change, and how to check them before you apply or move.
What a catchment area is
A catchment area is the geographic area a school prioritises in its admissions, but it is only one part of the oversubscription criteria. Criteria are set by the admissions authority and can include siblings, faith and distance.
Why catchments change
Catchment boundaries can shift year to year depending on how many families apply and where they live. Last year's cut-off distance is a guide, not a guarantee.
How to check before you commit
Read each school's published admissions criteria and recent distance data, and consider how a house move might affect priority. Plan ahead — moving within catchment after the application deadline may not help.
Frequently asked questions
How do catchment areas work?
A catchment is the area a school prioritises, but places are allocated using the full oversubscription criteria — often siblings, faith and distance — set by the admissions authority.
Does living in catchment guarantee a place?
No. Catchments and cut-off distances change with demand each year, so living nearby improves your chances but does not guarantee an offer.
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